First Blood (1982)

Director: Ted Kotcheff

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, David Caruso

Primary genre: Action

It is quite peculiar how several of the 80s cinematic icons lost their original edge through a sea of mediocre or subpar sequels, made for the sole purpose of generating income. Freddy Krueger, Chuckie, Terminator, Jason Voorhees, Axel Foley and in this case, John Rambo started with humble and visceral beginnings offering compelling stories instead of cheap thrills and banal resolutions for the teenage (primarily back then) US audience.

“First Blood” based on the 1972 novel by David Morrell, tells the simple story of a Vietnam veteran who ends up in the wrong side of the law due to prejudice and abuse of authority. Considering how popularized the politics are in the US right now, “First Blood” showcases how law enforcement officials can take things too far for no apparent reason much to the viewer’s dismay. Working exceptionally well as a nuanced character study of a broken man whose fighting spirit is the sole mechanism that keeps him alive, the first cinematic vehicle of John Rambo does not focus on a high body count or gratuitous action sequences.

Shot gorgeously in the natural landscapes of Canada (posing for the fictional town of Hope) and under Jerry Goldsmith’s evocative melodies, Rambo escapes police custody and a manhunt occurs in the dense and rainy forests of (apparently) Western USA. The action is used as a catalyst to explore Rambo’s lethal skills and survival tactics all the while highlighting how a man can return empty from a conflict where those who took part in, did not understand. Unlike Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” (1979) which places the audience straight into the heart of the chaotic (and occasionally absurd) Vietnam war, “First Blood” was the first to demonstrate what this type of combat did to surviving veterans in a society rejecting its returning sons and their problems. John Rambo became a relic in an instant due to the complex political aspirations of that time and an outcast who cannot be accepted as a drifter in a remote and quiet town.

The antagonist in the form of Will Teasle’s local sheriff mocks John’s appearance and clothes, openly discriminating against him and even towards his service credentials (“Do you think Rambo was the only guy who had a tough time in Vietnam?“) and credit should be given to Dennehy for portraying an authoritarian character under the mask of justice disregarding or downplaying aspects of police brutality even ignoring brutal facts and first hand testimonies. It is this type of ego which clashes and eventually triggers Rambo’s war mongering personality and thankfully for us, produces cinematic fireworks. As we learn more about the plaguing stoicism of John, we are invested in his personal odyssey and inevitable mental breakdown in one of the most powerful moments ever captured on celluloid; a testament to Stallone’s underrated acting abilities for infusing his hero with hefty amounts of substance earning him in the process a redemptive quality and a few teary eyes.

“First Blood” remains the best of the franchise because it precisely refuses to sacrifice characters and dramatic depth in the altar of pornographic shoot outs, explosions and OTT proceedings. With its Sauron like gaze upon its traumatized (and borderline anti)hero and his fight for survival ironically, not in a war torn country populated with enemy soldiers but in his own, this motion picture is an exceptional example of quality material dressed as an action flick. While the poster hints a stereotypical movie filled with guns and bullets, “First Blood” is nothing more but a laser focused story of a broken, yet capable man who rises against an established and corrupt government system that betrays the values which so vehemently proclaims to defend and uphold. It is a brave film noting down remarkable points about a conflict that only few dare to touch and opening the doors for more war focused epics such as “Platoon“ (1986) and “Full Metal Jacket“ (1987).

Action cinema with a heart of gold

+Stallone is sensational as John Rambo

+Beautifully raw landscapes

+Engaging story

+Vietnam movie not set in Vietnam

+Goldsmith’s score offers musical gravitas